Automobile-body.



P. J. MURPHY.

AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1914.

L15Q954 I Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

P. J. MURPHY.

AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1914.

1 1 5@,95% htented Aug. 24, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- M U% MZ/ 15 W 66 M i t/Kim W P. J. MURPHY.

AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1914.

1,,l5@ 95@@ Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

9 63 J I I E 566 Wm PAUL J'. MURPHY, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMOBILE-BODY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Application filed July 16, 1914. Serial No. 851,292.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL J. MURPHY, a citizenof the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepinand State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automobile-Bodies; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appe-rtains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to automobile bodies and has for its object toprovide a simple and efficient extensible box or carrying compartmenttherefor.

In the well known Ford runabout, and in other one seat automobiles, itis the common practice to provide a so-called torpedo body or box whichis extended rearward of the single seat and adapted for use in carryingsmall articles. Such rear end box 01' extension is customarily providedwith a hood having a door in its top affording access to the interiorthereof, but such boxes are not adapted for use to carry anything oflarge size. My invention so modifies and im proves the above noted typeof box or torpedo body that it is adapted to be opened up and extendedand used for carrying various things of large sizes, but which, whenfolded or closed, has approxin'iately the ordinary appearance and isthen adapted for use to carry smaller articles within its cl ose dcompartment.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation with some partsremoved and some parts indicated in diagram only, showing an automobilebody such as used on the Ford runabout. but having my invention appliedthereto; Fig. 2 is a view showing only the torpedo extension or box;Fig. 3 is a plan'view showing the extensible box or torpedo body openedup and extended; Fig. is a vertical. section taken on the line .1 .12 onFig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line .11 :r on Fig.1, some parts being removed; and Fig. l is a section taken on the line51: .1 on Fig. 4, some parts being broken away.

The numeral 1 indicates the base frame of the automobile body and thenumeral 2 indicates the seat thereof. That portion of the frame 1 whichextends at the rear of the seat 2 is provided with a bottom formingboard or plate 3 and with laterally spaced side boards 4 having inwardand downward guide channels 5 at their upper edges. The board 3 andsides 4 constitute the fixed portion of the carrying box.

The numeral G indicates a supplemental box, preferably constructed ofsheet metal and which consists of a bottom, sides and rear end, but isopen at its front end. This supplemental box is mounted to slidetelescopically into and out of the fixed or main box, and the upperedges of its sides are preferably turned inward and downward to affordflanges 7 that work within the guide flanges 5 of said fixed or mainbox. Normally, the supplemental box will be telescoped completely intothe main box, so that its outer end wall affords an outer end wall tothe said main box.

The numeral 8 indicates a large hood that is hinged at 9 to the outerextremity of the bottom 3 of the main box. This hood is made up of top,rear end and sides and normally occupies the position shown in Figs. 1and 2, in which its flanges completely embrace the sides of the main andsupplemen tal boxes and the top completely covers the same, therebyaffording a closed carrying compartment much like that employed on theFord runabout, but preferably of some what greater carrying capacity,even when closed. The hood 8 has a transverse metal cross bar 10 thatrigidly connects the sides thereof, but performs a more or lessimportant function, presently to be noted. The top plate of the hood 8is preferably provided with a hinged door 11 which affords access to theinterior of the inclosed carrying compartment while the hood is in itsnormal closed position. Also, as shown, and preferred. the hood. on itstop plate, is provided with a plurality of tire securing devices. suchas buckle-equipped straps 1.2. and which are adapted to hold an extratire 13 on top of the hood.

'hen it is desired to '-arry large articles on the rear of the machine.the hood 8 is turned backward. and upside-down, and the supplemental box6 is drawn out of the main box approximately as shown in Figs. 3' and l.and until its outer end portion is carried under the cross bar 10 of thesaid hood. 'hen the said cross bar 10 thus rests upon the extended endof the supplemental box, the hood is very securely supported in itsinverted position and its weight will hold the supplemental box againstaccidental sliding movements.

Obviously, the box extension as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, will carry avery good size load. In fact, both the strength and durability andefficiency of this extensible box have been thoroughly demonstrated inactual practice. Not only'can the extensible box proper be utilized tocarry articles of large size and Very considerable weight, but otherarticles may even be placed in the inverted hood below the extendedsupple mental box. The extensible box is of simple construction andsmall cost and provides means for converting What appears to be anautomobile of the ordinary runabout type into an automobile of veryconsiderable carrying capacity, Well adapted for use as a light deliverywagon. Furthermore, it may be very easily and quickly converted from theone form into the other.

What I claim is: r

1. The combination with a vehicle having a main carrying box, of asupplemental carrying box connected to said main box for horizontalsliding movements, but held against vertical movements in respect thereto, a hood hinged at the rear portion of said main box, normallycovering the said main and supplemental boxes andarranged to be turnedrearward to permit the rearward extension of said supplemental box, andmeans for supporting said hood in its back-turned position with the saidsupplemental box extended.

' 2. The combination with a vehicle having a main carrying box, of asupplemental carrying box connected to said main box for horizontalsliding movements, but held against vertical movements in respectthereto, a hood hinged at the rear portion of said main box, normallycovering the said main and supplemental boxes and arranged to be turnedrearward to permit the rearward extension of said supplemental box, thesaid hood and box having engaging parts for supporting the said hood ina back-turned position from the rearwardly extended portion of saidsupplemental box.

3. The combination with a vehicle having a main carrying box, of asupplemental carrying box connected to said main box for horizontalsliding movements, but held against vertical movements in respectthereto, a hood hinged at the rear portion of said main box, normallycovering the said main and supplemental boxes and arranged to be turnedrearward to permit the rearward extension of said supplemental box, thesaid supplemental box having an open top and open front end, and thesaid hood having a transverse bar adapted to engage the extended portionof said supplemental box to support said hood therefrom in a backturnedposition.

4. The combination with a vehicle body having a seat and a main carryingbox at the rear of said seat, of a supplemental carrying box connectedto said main box for horizontal sliding movements but held againstvertical movements in respect thereto, and

a hood hinged at the rear portion of said main box normally cox'eringsaid main and supplemental boxes and arranged to be turned rearward topermit the rearward extension of said supplemental box, the saidsupplemental box and hood having engaging parts for supporting said hoodin a backturned position from the extended rear end I portion of saidsupplemental box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two w1tnesses:

PAUL J. MURPHY. Witnesses ALICE L. KING, HARRY D. KILGORE.

